Hendrik

Hello Kevin, Excellent bit of very useful research - Many thanks for your efforts !!! Cheers, Hendrik

I thought it might be of interest to show some of the manufacturer's marks on the various types of the official Italian Victory Medal types as designed by Gaetano Orsolini (there are a number of reissues, repros and unofficial types) ... First, my favourite, the Lorioli type : just that fractionally more refined than the others : - on the obverse in the exergue : left "Orsolino Mod." - right, in two lines "F.M. Lorioli & Castelli / Milano" - reverse : no die sinker's name [attachmentid=34329] Next, the nice Sacchini type : - obverse exergue : left "Orsolino Mod." - right "Sacchini - Milano" - reverse : right, just above the exergue, the die sinker's name "G. Villa" [attachmentid=34332] Thirdly, the Johnson type : - obverse exergue : left "Orsolino Mod." - right "S. Johnson - Milano" - reverse : right, just above the exergue, the die sinker's name "G. Villa" [attachmentid=34333] Two more official types are mentioned in the excellent book "The Interallied Victory Medals of World War I" by A. Laslo : both are without a maker's reference but one does have the Orsolini name in place, the other doesn't. The latter further differs from the others by having "MCMXV" as the starting year on the reverse inscription - it actually correctly reflects Italy's entry into the war. Cheers, Hendrik

I agree completely : years ago I visited the landing beaches and other interesting spots in Normandy and found that even the small local museums had managed to have some medals and their recipient's stories on display - always nice to gather the historical background on those ribboned pieces of metal Christophe, thanks for the link to the Normandie-Niemen - I very much enjoyed visiting the site. Hendrik

An obvious one, Imperial War Museum ... the site links to - the London IWM - the Duxford IWM - the IWM North - the Churchill Museum and Cabinet Rooms - HMS Belfast

Well now, I beg to differ Although I agree the Legion of Honour is in a class of its own, I quite like the various French orders (most of them out of use by now) designwise and that includes this Arts et Lettres one. I find it compares well and even exceeds the design of the Palmes Acad?miques series ... As the French saying goes : les gouts et les couleurs ne se discutent pas Guess we're all entitled to our own likes and preferences - So, my thanks to Guy for posting this topic Keep them coming ! Hendrik

Jacques, Stunning, wonderfully gorgeous ... you name it, it is just that ! Although not an avid collector of TR awards, the design and, especially, the requirements to get this one awarded are quite exceptional. I've been mopping up the drool ever since clapping eyes on your picture ! Hendrik

Quite so ! According to the Gordon book the Rifle Brigade can be counted among those units that received the Balaklava bar and as such the 4 bar combination is indeed possible. Great looking one and including the top suspension clasp ... Gorgeous !

And, finally, the battalion's sleeve insignia. [attachmentid=32980]

The Belgian Battalion in Korea's beret badge. [attachmentid=32979]

The Korean Republic's War Medal. [attachmentid=32978]

The UN Korea Medal, French language reverse. [attachmentid=32975] [attachmentid=32977]

The Combattant Volunteer Medal with silvered bars indicating being under enemy fire or bronze bars (present in the theatre but not having been under actual enemy fire) - also on the ribbon are retroactively awarded bars for world wars I and II. [attachmentid=32973] [attachmentid=32974]

Operations Abroad Medal with bar for the Korean War, small red enamelled cross for the wounded and the three battle bars issued. [attachmentid=32972]

The War Cross with 2 palms (= citations) on the ribbon. Reverse : King Leopold III's cypher corresponding with the "L" of the obverse palm devices. [attachmentid=32970] [attachmentid=32971]

Military Decoration for Bravery (aka Article 4), 2nd class, complete with its palm on the ribbon. Reverse : King Leopold III's cypher corresponding with the "L" of the obverse palm device. [attachmentid=32968] [attachmentid=32969]

Order of Leopold II, Knight class, with silver palm, indicating a war time award. [attachmentid=32967]

Order of Leopold II, Knight class, with silver crossed swords "COREE" and a bronze palm, indicating a war time award and later addition of the swords as awarded to veterans of the Korean War 1950-53. [attachmentid=32966]

Kicking off with the Order of Leopold I, Officer class, with gilt crossed swords "KOREA" as awarded to veterans of the Korean War 1950-53. [attachmentid=32965]

Hello Guy, Gorgeous Grand Cross set ... any pictures available of a military division set ? Anyone ? And, dare I ask, of a maritime division set ? Cheers, Hendrik

Thanks for posting these, Guy; I love the Arts et Lettres design Cheers, Hendrik

Hello Kevin, Excellent !!! Great information, keep it coming ! Thanks, Hendrik

Regretfully, no idea at all ... if such a list does indeed exist !

Gents, Below is a picture of this medal with two bars on its ribbon, TIMOR 1895 and INDIA 1896. I have no other information than that the medal was probably instituted in 1913 (and am not even sure I've correctly identified it). The bars refer to earlier operations and may thus be retroactively awarded. I would appreciate more information on this medal and the bars that were issued with it, some historical background, anything you'd care to mention for my enlightment. Thanks, Hendrik [attachmentid=32266] [attachmentid=32267]

... it's Spanish ! See this thread : http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=6...indpost&p=66235

Oops !!! Just realized as I reread my post ... wrong medal ! This is the one you meant : Created on 21 November 1927 by the Spanish government to commemorate the campaign in Northern Morocco (Rif mountain area) in which both French and Spanish troops took part. The adversaries were the tribes led by Abd-El-Krim and the campaign lasted between 1 July 1925 and 23 July 1927. Apparently some 200.000 military (half of them French, the other half Spanish) were involved over the years. The French government approved the wearing of this medal by their military by a decree dated 3 April 1930. The star on the ribbon is believed to be a Moroccan symbol (and not a Star of David as it is sometimes referred to). Perhaps interesting too : the French were originally led by Field-Marshal Lyautey but later on by FM P?tain of WW1 and Verdun fame. Picture of the medal on a Spanish suspension bar below [attachmentid=32265]